Selected Courses

Biography

I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and always thought I wanted to be a teacher. In college I realized that I was fascinated by the developing world, so I joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Cote d'Ivoire. It was a transformative experience and led me to graduate study in Political Science, focused on questions of democratization and development in Africa. After earning my Ph.D. from Washington University I was awarded a Carnegie Mellon Fellowship from Brandeis University, and joined Earlham's Politics Department in 2008. I teach courses in the subfield of Comparative Politics, seeking answers to questions about why some countries transition to democracy or are systematically able to improve the lives of their populations. I love the mix of academic excellence and international awareness on this campus, and have had the privilege to publish a recent article in Citizenship Studies with several student co-authors. In addition to my substantive academic areas of interest, I teach research design and I have actively encouraged my students to pursue ambitious research projects and present them in professional settings such as the Midwest Political Science Association conference held annually in Chicago.

Research Projects

“Is Citizenship the Key to Peace and Democracy in Africa?” In progress.

The Legacies of Transition Governments in Africa: The Cases of Benin and Togo. Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.

Professional Memberships

American Political Science Association African Studies Association African Politics Conference Group Midwest Political Science Association West Africa Research Association

About Earlham

Earlham College, an independent, residential college, aspires to provide the highest-quality undergraduate education in the liberal arts, including the sciences, shaped by the distinctive perspectives of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).